Firms Hired To Cajole Websites Into Annihilating Their Own Content
We're in a WSJ article today that touches upon our encounter with Reputation Defender, a company clients hire to go around sending turgid pleas to mean websites for posting factual information already reported in mainstream media publications:
ReputationDefender also sent a takedown request to Consumerist, a Gawker Media blog that had written about a man who was briefly jailed for harassment after repeatedly calling online travel agent Priceline.com Inc. for a refund. The letter asked the blog to remove or alter the archived post, saying it was "outdated and disturbing" to its client. Consumerist editor Ben Popken blasted the request with a profanely titled entry, calling it an attempt at censorship. "It's not like we're spreading libel," he said. "They were trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube."Always irreverent, never irrelevant, that's our motto. — BEN POPKENReputationDefender's Mr. Fertik said the company is no longer sending letters to irreverent blogs like Consumerist, which may be more likely to mock the company's efforts. "We are no longer taking those kinds of risks with those kinds of outlets," he said.
Firms Tidy Up Clients' Bad Online Reputations [WSJ]
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Ronnie Segev & ReputationDefender Can Eat A Dick
Priceline Has Customer Arrested for Diligent Refund Attempt
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Comments:
Reputation Defender has successfully destroyed the reputations of several of its clients, by pursuing agenda that keep unsavory truths in the limelight. They're a disaster.
Wait, there's mocking? On the INTERNET? I demand a refund; I only signed up for positive internet experiences like porn and .. um .. well, just the porn.
I wonder if Reputation Defender can repair the damage I've done to my own online rep?
After reading the article, sounds to me as though this is a group of recent law graduates attempting to put some of that newly gained legal language to misappropriate usage - probably by threatening individuals to remove informations with "legal action".
I wonder if this is the "counsel" DS-MAX uses.
hey ben, is it possible to keep a running tab on which companies reputationdefender works with?
Ben, we love it when you blast.
I love that these turd burglars couldn't figure out that a site dripping with as much sarcasm as the Consumerist would instantly make fun of any attempt at bullying.
Perhaps these guys should actually read the sites they are trying to bully to predict whether their empty legal threats will be more effective than a marshmallow shooter in a gun fight.
I just like that the title of this post appears to be written in Engrish.
If you ask me, it's not a takedown notice if it doesn't mention the DMCA.
@AlteredBeast: your comment assumes, incorrectly, that in every consumer-retailer dispute... the consumer is 100% without fault.
"ReputationDefender's Mr. Fertik said the company is no longer sending letters to irreverent blogs like Consumerist, which may be more likely to mock the company's efforts. "
Allow me to translate: We will take your money and then send a crappily worded email to the web sites we know are easy to work with and won't scare us or make us cry. For any others, you're on your own.
Wouldn't it be cheaper and better for the company just to not be assholes to their customers in the first place?
@tadowguy: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
HAAAAA HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Oh! Lordy.....
Yeah, not a chance...
@AlteredBeast: Exactly. Or if you do something really stupid, use an alias...or the name of somebody you really hate.
Wow this is kinda sad really. These "reputation defenders" seem to be total ametures...seriously... do they really think a nice letter gets them anywhere? At the end of the day if someone wants to really "fix" their reputation they need a PR firm... someone with real experience, relationships, and tact. Not some dweebs in KY writing form letters. How dumb!
As a company, you should strive at not having anything bad enough to be posted on here. If for some reason they mess up really bad, do the right thing and apologize. DO NOT send lawyers or other people after the place calling you out, all that ends up doing is ruining your companies rep even more, making us not want to do business with you at all.
As a Journalist, an Editor-In-Chief, and an owner of a press agency, I've got 3 words for you...
Bring It On
This
Whenever a company sends Consumerist.com pleas for clemency it's like the company is actively and willingly strapping itself to the Consumerist Whipping Post. Make sure that leather's tight!
Perhaps they should stick to helping out identity theft victims and individuals whose privacy is at stake. (This is assuming those examples in the article were truthful).
The best way to defend your reputation is to not do stupid things in the first place.